Container filling machine and method



y 1950 w. BERTHELSEN 2,50%756 CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

May 30, 1950 Filed March 16, 1946 W. BERTHELSEN CONTA INER FILLING MACHINE AND METHbD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

3 1950 w. BERTHELSEN 2,509,756

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 seessssa '-1 A A MAW/W m wi INVENTOR.

B Y M/fer Zefiel en Patented May 30, 1950 CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE AND METHOD Walter Berthclsen, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 16, 1946, Serial No. 654,890

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a container filling machine.

The invention has for an object to Provide a novel and improved container filling machine which is capable of filling the containers in a superior, highly eificient, accurate and rapid manner.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved filling nozzle assembly particularly adapted for use in a filling machine operating upon the vacuum principle and whose construction is such as to produce extremely accurate filling levels in the containers being filled, and also to reduce to a minimum dripping of the liquid from the filling nozzle.

With these general objects in view and. such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the container filling machine, in the filling nozzle assembly, and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a bottle filling machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the present filling nozzle the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 6; Figs. 3 and 4 are views in side elevation of the nozzle shown in Fig. 2, portions being broken away and shown in cross section, illustrating the parts in different positions of operation; Fig. 4A is a detail view of the bottle and the filling tube in a different position of operation, to be referred to; Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9 are cross sectional views through the nozzle assembly taken on the lines 5-5, 53-6, 'l'l, 8-8 and 9-9 respectively; Fig. 10 is a cross sectional View of a modified form of the present filling nozzle; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same, portions being broken away to illustrate the parts in a dififerent position of operation; and Fig. 12 is a. detail view in side elevation illustrating the elevating mechanism for the containers, to be hereinafter referred to.

In a filling machine embodying the present invention provision is made for filling the bottles or other receptacles by filling mechanism operating upon the well-known vacuum principle in which the bottle is elevated into position to be sealed at the filling head or nozzle, and provision is made for evacuating the bottle by the connection of the filling nozzle with a source of vacuum. The vacuum thus created within the bottle is then utilized to draw liquid into the bottle until the latter has become filled to the level of the lower end of the filling nozzle whereupon the excess liquid is drawn with the suction and caught in a trap or separator to be sub sequently returned to the source of supply of liquid.

The present invention is shown as embodied in a typical vacuum filling machine such as is shown and described in the United States Patent to Everett, No. 2,136,421, issued November 15, 1938, to which reference may be made for the general construction and mode of operation of such a machine.

In such prior filling machines difoculty has een encountered in obtaining accurate filling levels because of the agitation or turbulence at the surface of the liquid as a result of the air which rushes into the bottle when the seal is broken during withdrawal of the nozzle after the bottle has been filled to a predetermined level. This agitation or turbulance causes the liquid to be raised into engagement with the suction tube at the end of the filling nozzle thus causing some additional liquid to be drawn from the filled bottle, resulting in lowering the filling height below the predetermined level. The amount of agitation and the amount of liquid thus withdrawn, varies with the viscosity of the liquid and with the amount of suction existing in the systern at any particular time, so that non-uniform filling levels are produced in successive bottles. Variation in suction is inherent in such filling machines for the reason that some of the filling heads are fully open to the atmosphere while other heads are filling, and, at times a relatively large number of filling heads are open to the atmosphere such as when starting a new line of bottles through the machine or when a break in the line occurs. For this reason a relatively large capacity vacuum pump is required to maintain the suction necessary to eiiect rapid filling, and, with some liquids, this relatively high degree of suction is capable of causing liquid to be withdrawn from the bottle even after the end of the nozzle has been moved substantial distance away from the nor" thus rendering it difiicult to m filling levels in successive bottles.

In accordance with one feature of the r" ent invention, provision is made for pc 5 the suction tube of the filling head or nozzle be fully open to the source of suction during the filling operation whereby to effect rapid filling of the bottles, and, for thereafter automatically and substantially reducing the suction simultane ously with or immediately prior bree the seal between the bottl the i In this manner agitation of the surface of the liquid is reduced to a minimum since withdrawal of the surplus liquid is performed after the bottle has been opened to atmospheric pressure and then under a substantially reduced suction, and, while this suction is capable of withdrawing ie surplus liquid to level off the filling hei the predetermined level, it is not efiective to withdraw further liquid during withdrawal of the nozzle and after the predetermined level has been reached.

In such prior filling machines difficulty has also been encountered with respect to dripping of the liquid from the end of the nozzle at the completion of the filling operation which is likewise conducive to inaccuracies in filling levels in successive bottles. Prior attempts to overcome the tendency of the liquid to drip from the nozzle include'a structure designed to connect the upper end of the filling tube directly with the source of suction at the completion of the filling operation to thus draw the liquid remaining in the filling tube at this time into the suction conduit to be returned to the source of supply. Such prior attempts at clearing the filling nozzle of the liquid remaining therein after the filling operation and after the supply of liquid has been cut off were unsuccessful or impractical for the reason that during the operation of the machine continuous suction is created at each filling head, and inasmuch as this suction varies in accordance with the number of filling heads open to the atmosphere it will be seen that when a relatively large number of such heads are open to the atmosphere the suction is reduced to such an extent that dripping from the nozzles is apt to occur.

In accordance with another feature of the pres ent invention provision is made for evacuating the liquid remaining in the filling tube directly into the bottle at the end of the filling operation after closing off the source of supply. In practice, this is accomplished by opening the upper end of the filling tube to the atmosphere directly 7 after the liquid supply has been cut off, and immediately prior to breaking the seal between the nozzle and the bottle. In this manner, the liquid trapped in the nozzle is caused to be rapidly evacuated into the container by reason of the reduced pressure in the container at this time. hereafter, the seal between the bottle and the filling nozzle is broken and the surplus liquid is withdrawn by the reduced suction as above described to level off to the predetermined filling height, thus effectively reducing dripping from the nozzle and reducing turbulence to a minimum to produce extremely accurate and uniform filling levels in successive bottles.

In practice it is preferred to first underfill the bottle to a level a short distance below the predetermined filling level required and which may be termed the primary filling operation. The

' cured to the sleeve 34.

liquid supply is then cut off and the liquid remaining in the filling nozzle is evacuated into the bottle. This additional liquid introduced into the bottle may be of sufficient volume to raise the level in the bottle at least up to and preferably slightly above the predetermined filling level required and may be termed the final filling operation. Thereafter, any surplus liquid is drawn off under a reduced suction as above described until the predetermined filling level is reached and such withdrawal may be termed the leveling operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a bottle actuated valve is provided to discontinue the supply of liquid when the bottle has been filled to its primary or under-filled level, and immediately thereafter provision is made for opening the filling tube to the atmosphere thus permitting the contents of the filling tube to be emptied into the bottle. Provision is further made for permitting full communication between the air or suction tube and the source of suction during the primary filling operation, and for thereafter substantially reducing the communicating opening between the suction tube and the source of suction as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of illustration the present invention is illustrated as embodied in an automatic rotary filling machine of the type shown in the Everett Patent No. 2,136,421 above referred to, and only sumcient portions of the complete filling machine have been herein illustrated and described as will enable the present invention to be understood. In general the machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a plurality of filling units It) detachably secured to and rotatable with a rotary hollow member i2 having a chamber id to which the liquid is supplied from a supply tank [5 through a pipe 56. The liquid is drawn from the tank and into the hollow member by a vacuum pump, not shown, through connections including a pipe l8, separating chamber 2 and pipe 22, the latter communicating with a second chamber comprising a suction chamber E l provided in the hollow member l2. As herein shown, the liquid chamber i is connected to the filling units In by connecting pipes or conduits 26 and the suction chamber 24 is connected to the filling units by connecting pipes or conduits 28. In its preferred form the machine is provided with a series of bottle elevating platforms 3 which are arranged to elevate the bottles into sealing engagement with the filling units It during rotation thereof to fill the bottles, and thereafter to lower the bottles away from the filling units preparatory to discharging the filled bottles from the machine. As herein shown the elevating platforms 3d are mounted for rotation with the filling units or heads it in a rotary member 32 attached to a cylindrical sleeve 34 rotatably mounted in the base of the machine. The hollow rotary member i2 is attached to the top of a second cylindrical sleeve it adiustably se- Rotation of the filling units it and the supporting platforms 30 is effected by a gear train indicated generally at 38, through bevel gears 3%, speed reducing unit 42 and pulley [it which may be belted to a motor, not shown.

The filling operation as above described is effected by the evacuation of the bottle in accordance with the well-known vacuum principle, the: liquid being drawn from the chamber I4 and into the bottle upon elevation thereof into engagement with a sealing member 46 provided on the filling nozzle. Each elevating platform 30 is mounted on the end of a vertical rod 48 slidingly supported in the member 32. A roll supporting sleeve 5|] detachably secured to the end of the rod 48 is provided with a roller 52 which cooperates with a stationary cam ring 54 supported on the base of the machine and arranged to effect raising and lowering of the platforms 30 to present the bottles into and out of sealing engagement with the filling heads.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 each filling head [0 comprises a housing or body portion 56 provided with a bore therein for slidingly receiving a filling nozzle or tube 58. The upper portion of the housing 56 is provided with an enlarged bore in which a spring pressed valve member 60 is disposed, and arranged to cooperate With a valve seat 62 formed in the housing. The upper end of the housing may be provided with a threaded cap member 6| and washer 63 for sealing the valve chamber. The valve member 60 is normally urged into its closed position to cut ofi the supply of liquid from the supply line 26 by a spring 64, and is arranged to be raised into its open position as shown in Fig. 2 by the engagement of the upper end of the nozzle 58 with the valve 60 when the sealing member 46 mounted on the nozzle is engaged by a bottle elevated into sealing position. The sealing member 46 may be adjustably mounted on the nozzle 58 by the provision of a collar 66. As herein shown the filling tube 58 is provided with an inner tubular member 68 which is flattened on one side to provide a relatively small suction opening ll] between the tube 56 and the flattened portion of the tube 68 the suction opening extending =from the end of the nozzle upwardly into communication with the suction line or conduit 28 through a relatively large opening ll cut in the side of the tube as best shown in Fig. 8, and also through a relatively small bleeder opening 13. An increased diameter bore may be provided in the housing 56 adjacent the suction conduit connection in order to provide adequate communication between the conduit 23 and the openings 1 I, '13.

In practice, the sealing member 46 is adjusted on the nozzle so that the distance from the end of the nozzle to the sealing member, indicated as distance A, corresponds with the primary filling level in the bottle. In the operation of the device the bottle is elevated on its platform by the cam 54 into engagement with the sealing member 46 and upon further elevation of the bottle the nozzle 58 is raised to effect raising of i the valve member 60 to open the filling tube to the liquid supply conduit 26, the liquid entering the tube through openings 12 cut in opposite sides of the tube 58, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. At this time both the relatively large suction opening H and the small bleeder opening 13 are open between the passageway 10 and the suction line 28 whereby to efiect rapid evacuation of the air I in the bottle and filling or the bottle up to the end of the nozzle 58. When the bottle has been filled to the preliminary or primary level as indicated at A the surplus liquid is drawn out through the passageway l0 and into the suction line 28. Thereafter the bottle is lowered by the cam 54 to permit the spring pressed valve 60 to engage the valve seat 62 thus cutting off the supply of liquid, such position being indicated in Fig. 3. At this time the liquid remaining in the filling nozzle is locked therein and upon continued descent of the bottle but before the seal between the iii) end of the bottle and the seal 46 is broken the upper end of the filling nozzle moves away from the valve member to expose the ends of atmospheric vents Hi normally closed by the valve 66. The vents 14 are formed by grooves in a cylindrical member 16 in which the tube 58 is mounted and by a second cylindrical member or outer tube 18 forming a part of the filling nozzle assembly as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. The vents 14 extend longitudinally of the nozzle assembly and are open to the atmosphere at the lower end of the outer tube 18 by the concentric passageway I9 formed between the tubes 58 and '58. Upon opening of the up er end of the filling tube to the atmosphere through the vents 14 the contents of the filling nozzle are immediately evacuated into the bottle, and since the seal 46 is not yet broken the suction in the bottle at this time effects a rapid and complete emptying of the contents of the tube into the bottle. During the descentof the bottle and the. nozzle 58 the large suction opening H is gradually being cut oil, as illustrated, until when the seal 46 is finally broken, the opening II is completely out ofi by the inner surface of the housing 56, which forms a closure valve, thus leaving the bleeder aperture 13 as the sole communicating opening between the suction passageway and the conduit 28. The nozzle is arranged to be positively moved downwardly as described by the provision of a collar fixed to the nozzle assembly which cooperates With a spring 82 bearing against the end of the housing 56, and, the nozzle is limited in its downward position by the engagement of the collar with a stop bar 84 extending from the rotary hollow member 12 as shown in Fig. 1.

During the continued descent of the elevator, the bottle is moved a substantial distance away from the sealing member 46 as shown in Fig. 4 and the additional liquid provided in the bottle by the evacuation of the filling tube may and preferably will comprise the final charge or load to complete the filling operation and will preferably be sufficient to raise the surface of the liquid gr to a level slightly above the predetermined level required, as indicated at B in Fig. 4. The bottle is then again elevated short distance to present the end of the nozzle into the liquid to the predetermined level indicated at C in Fig. 4A in which position the surplus liquid is drawn and levelled off through the passageway 10 and the bleeder opening 73 to the suction conduit 28. It will be understood that during the levelling operation the seal 46 is not engaged and that the bottle is open to the atmosphere at this time. In this manner the turbulence at the surface of the liquid and consequent inaccuracies in the filling levels is effectively eliminated and dripping of the liquid from the nozzle after the filling operation has been completed is effectively controlled.

In order to further assist in preventing dripping from the nozzle of any liquid which might remain upon the inner walls of the nozzle, the end thereof is cut at an angle as indicated at 93 so that such liquid collecting at the end of the nozzle will run down to the side at which the suction passageway Ill is disposed to be drawn up the passageway into the suction line. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the valve supporting member 96 to which the valve 60 isattached may and preferably will be made in triangular shape in cross section to provide bearing points against the bore in which it is slidingly mounted.

From the description thus far it will be seen that in the operation of the illustrated and pre- 1 portion or housing ldfi having a nozzle m 'gagement with the bottle.

liquid supply is cut ofibythe valve 6% and the atmospheric vents iii are opened to permit evacu'ation ofthe liquid'locked in the filling nozzle thus-providing an additional charge to effect filling of the-bottle slightly above the predetermined filling level. Thereafter the bottle is again elevated -to present the -end 'of: the nozzle into the liquidto-the' predetermined filling level required at which time the surplus liquid is removed through the small bleeder opening to the su tion conduit.

The elevator 36 is then lowered to entirely'withdraw the'nozzle from the bottle. It will'thus be seen that the-elevation of the bottle to present the end of the tube'into the liquid after the filling tube has been evacuated determines thefilling-levelin the bottle, and, as illustrated in Fig; -12 such elevation of the bottle mayand pref erably willbe-effected by the provision of an auxiliary adjustable campiece 92 mounted tocoopcrate with the cam Mend roller 52 of the .ele-

vatingplatform. The c'am'piece 92mm] be supported in suitableiguides 94' andmay be set in position to effect the required elevation of the bottle withrespect to the end of the nozzle 53 toobtain the required filling heightby adjusting screws 96. 'In prior vacuum filling machines it hasbeen the usual practice to adjust the nozzle sealsflb of individual filling heads, the distance from such seal to the end of the nozzle determining the filling-level. In the present structure,-as her'einshown, the leveling operation is performed during the time when the seal 55 is brokenand the 'endofthenozzle extendedinto the liquid." Thus;-once the individual units of the presentdevice are adjusted uniformly to provide a 'predetermined'filling level in successive bottles, suchfilling level may be changed within reasonable" limits'by merely adjusting the cam piece 92, thus elim'inating the time and expense and'conse'qu'en't loss of production involved in adjusting each-individual nozzleto obtain a dinerent filling leveli Since the cam e l is stationary, onefeature ofthe-present construction resides in the fact that'thec'an'i piece 92 may be adjusted to change'the effective filling level while the machine" isin opera'tionso that full production capacity' maybe maintained'during such time.

Referring now to FigrlO, a modified form of the present filling head or unit may comprise a body I92 slidingly supported therein and pi c-vnied with" avalve member We at'its upper end arranged to cooperate with a valve seat formed in'the housing. The nozzle is also provided with an-adjustable sealing member 36 for sealing err-- In this embodiment the nozzle iild is c'onnected' tothe lower'end of the body portion Hillby ametal hose bellows 6-88 and the valve member m4 is likewise connected to the upper endof the' housing by a metal hose bellows Hi]. The" nozzle member N32 is provided with an outer cylindrical supporting member i ii having a portion of enlarged diameter slidably mounted in the'block Hill and arranged to engage shouldered portions H'MHG of the housing to limit its movement in either direction. The tube :02 is also provided with a suction passageway H8 formed at one side thereof in a manner simi 'bleeder opening height.

lar to that shown in Fig. 2. The nozzle assembly is connected with the liquidsupply conduit 26 and suction conduit 28, which re arranged to communicate with the liquid tube I02 and suction passageway 4 l8 respectively.

In theoperation ofthe modifiedembodiment of-the device when a-bottle is elevated into sealing engagement with the sealing member ldthe upper end'of the nozzle effects'raising of'the valve i iii to permit the liquid to be drawn through the tube and into the bottle; thesurplus liquid being drawn through the suction passageway-1 l8 and intothe suction line-'28 through both a'relatively large communicating opening I29 and a N2. As herein shown the upper end of the nozzle assembly is providedwithaN- shaped plate ii extending across the endzthereof which is arranged to engage the valve unit The lower endof the valve unit l -fl lis provided with-a second valve member 126; arranged tocontrol'an air vent ill extending upwardly from the end of the valve H14 through a tubular member i28to which the'lower end; of the valve we is secured. The valve l26is provided with a stem Hit having bearing portions i3! for guiding thestemin the tube I28; The upper end of the stem is provided with a cap member E33 arranged to'rest against the top of the tube H8- when the valve is in itsloweredor open position. The cap is provided'withopenings itilthroughwhich the air may enter when the valve 52% is open. When the bottle is filled to its preliminary filling level, the elevator effects lowering of the bottle, and upon initial downward movement of thenozzle, the valve I-U4-is caused to belclosed against the seat [06' by the spring bellows i letassisted by an auxiliaryv spring as illustrated. .During such time theseal i'dis'maintained against the bottle by-the spring bellows iiiii. Upon continued lowering of the nozzle E82 and while still sealed by the member Qiithe air valve member PM; ispermitted to drop thus'exposing'the'liquid in the nozzle to the atmosphere and permitting the same tobe'evacuated into the bottle thus providing an additional charge of liquid which may and preferably willl fill the bottle. slightly above thepredeterminedlevel. Upon further lowering-0f the bottle theseal iii is broken and thereafter the bottle is again" elevated, apredetermined distance to present the end of the nozzle to the predetermined filling level whereupon the surplus liquid withdrawnthrough the'suction line 28. It will be observed that when the nozzle is permitted to be iowered as illustrated in Figql'l the relstivelylarge communicating; opening I20 between the. suction passageway H8 and thesuction line Et'is gradually cut off by the inner surface of the housing idii sothat when the portion iii? of the nozzle engages the shoulder H6 the suction is required topass through the relative- 1y small bleeder opening E22 as above described. As aresult, when the seal ib is broken the pressure in the bottle" is'substantialiy balanced and the surface of the liquid is in a substantially quiescent state, the relatively low degree of suction eiifected by the smallxbleeder openingpermitting the surplus liquid to be drawn on. and leveled to an accurate predetermined-filling From the above'description" it will be observed that the present nozzle structure permitsaccurate predetermined filling levels to be maintained in successive bottles by substantially eliminating or at least reducing to a minimum surface agitation of the liquid during the surplus draining or leveling operation. It will also be observed that dripping from the nozzle, after the filling operation, is effectually controlled by cutting oil the liquid supply after a predetermined primary filling level is reached and then evacuating the contents of the nozzle into the bottle, this additional charge forming the finalfillingincrementto make up the complete filling height and preferably slightly more than the amount requiredto makeup such height so that the surplus liquid may be drained by a reduced suction while the surface of the liquid is in a substantially quiescent state, thus enabling extremely accurate and uniform filling levels to be maintained in successive bottles.

While the preferred embodiment of the inven-- tion has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to effect filling of the container by a relatively high degree of suction applied to the interior of the container, and means for substantially reducing the suction being applied to the interior of the container at the completion of the filling operation and during withdrawal of surplus liquid to a predetermined filling level to a relatively low degree of suction, whereby to reduce to a minimum turbulence and surface agitation of the liquid during the leveling operation and thus permit accurate filling levels to be attained.

2. In a vacuum operated filling machine hav-' ing a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to effect filling of the container by a relatively high degree of suction applied to the interior of the container, and container actuated means for substantially reducing the suction thereto being applied at the completion of the filling operation and during Withdrawal of surplus liquid to a predetermined filling level to a relatively low degree of suction, whereby to reduce to a minimum turbulence and surface agitation of the liquid during the leveling operation and thus permit accurate filling levels to be attained.

3. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to effect filling of the container by a relatively high degree of suction, means for cutting 01? communication between the liquid conduit and the liquid tube When the container is filled to a height below a predetermined filling level, means for thereafter effecting evacuation of the contents of the liquid tube into the container to fill the same above said predetermined filling level, means for relatively moving the container and the nozzle to dispose the end of the nozzle at the predetermined filling level to efiect withdrawal of the surplus liquid, and means for reducing the suction being applied to the interior of the container during the leveling operation to a relatively low degree of suction, whereby to reduce to a minimum turbulence and surface agitation of the liquid durin the leveling operation and thus permit accurate filling levels to be attained.

4:. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively, means for cutting off communication between the liquid conduit and the liquid tube when the container is filled to a height below a predetermined filling level, and means for thereafter effecting evacuation of the contents of the liquid tube into the container.

5. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by a container and comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively, a valve actuated by movement of the container for controlling the flow of liquid into said liquid tube arranged to cut off the supply when the container is partially filled, and means for forming a vent for the filling tube leading to the atmosphere, means for opening the vent after the liquid supply is cut ofi to permit the liquid remaining in the filling tube to fiow into the container to complete the filling operation.

6. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit,

in combination, a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by a container, comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube arranged to communicate with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to efifect filling of the container, means forming a relatively large communicating opening and a relatively small communicating opening between said suction tube and said suction conduit, and container actuated means for closing said relatively large suction opening prior to breaking the seal between the container and the nozzle at the completion of the filling operation while permitting the relatively small opening to remain open, whereby to reduce to a minimum turbulence and surface agitation of the liquid during the levelling operation and thus permit accurate filling levels to be attained.

7. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, a filling nozzle having liquid tube, a suction tube, and a sealing member for the container, a valve arranged when closed to cut off the supply of liquid from the supply conduit to said liquid tube, means forming an atmospheric vent arranged when opened to communicate with said liquid tube to effect evacuation of its contents into the container after said liquid supply is cut off, and means actuated by movement of the nozzle when engaged by a container being moved into and from sealing position for operating said valve and for controlling said atmospheric vent, and container actuated valve means for subjecting the interior of the container to a high degree of suction during the main filling operation and to a low degree of suction just prior to movement of the container from sealing engagement with the nozzle.

8. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, 2. filling nozzle having a liquid tube, a suction tube, and having a sealing member for the container, a valve arranged when closed to cut off the supply of liquid from the supply conduit to said liquid tube, means formin an atmospheric vent arranged to be opened and closed by said valve, and when Opened to communicate with said liquid tube to effect evacuation of its contents into the container after said liquid supply is cut off, and means actuated by movement of the nozzle while engaged by a container being moved from sealing position for closing said valve and for" exposing said atmospheric vent prior to breaking the seal between the container and the nozzle whereby the suction at such time in the bottle effects a rapid evacuation of the liquid tube.

9. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, a filling nozzle having a liquid tube, a suction tube, and a sealing member for the container, a valve arranged when closed to cut off the supply of liquid to said liquid tube, means forming an atmospheric vent arranged when opened to communicate with the upper end of said liquid tube to effect evacuation of its contents into the containe'r after said liquid suppl is cut off, means forming a relatively large aperture'and a relatively small aperture between said suction conduit and the suction tube, and means actuated by movement of the nozzle while engaged by a container' being moved from sealing position for closing said valve, exposing said vent, and cutting off said relatively large suction aperture prior to breaking the seal between the container and the nozzle.

10. In the method of filling a container in a vacuum operated filling machine having a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by a container, the steps which comprise filling the container to a height below the predetermined level required, then cutting off the supply of liquid and evacuating the contents of the nozzle into the container to fill the container to a height above the predetermined level required, and thereafter relatively moving the nozzle and the container to dispose the end of the nozzle into the liquid at the predetermined level required to effect withdrawal of the surplus liquid.

11. In the method of filling a, container in a vacuum operated filling machine having a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by a container, the steps which comprise filling the container to a height below the predetermined level required while under a relatively high degree of suction, then cutting off the supply of liquid and evacuating the contents of the nozzle into the container to fill the container to a height above the predetermined level required, substantially reducing the effective suction, and thereafter relatively moving the nozzle and the container to dispose the end of the nozzle into the liquid at the predetermined level required to effect withdrawal of the surplus liquid while under a relatively low degree of suction.

12. In the method of filling a container in a vacuum operated filling machine having a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed b a container, the

steps which comprise filling the container to a height below the predetermined level required by maintaining the container under a relatively high degree of suction and while the nozzle is sealed by the container, then cutting off the supply of liquid and evacuating the contents of the nozzle into the container to fill the container to a height above the predetermined level required, substantially reducing the effective suction, relatively moving the nozzle and the container to break the seal therebetween, and thereafter relatively 12 moving the nozzle and the container todispose the end of the nozzle in the liquid at the predetermined level required to efiect withdrawal of the surplus liquid while under a relatively low degree of suction.

13. In a vacuum operate-d filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by the container and comprising a, liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to effect filling of the container byvacuum within the container, means for cutting off communicat'ion between the liquid conduit and the liquid tube when the container is filled to a height below a predetermined filling level, means for thereafter efiecting evacuation of the contents of the liquid tube into the container to fill the same above said predetermined filling level, and means for relatively moving the container and the nozzle to dispose the end of the nozzle at the predetermined filling level to effect with drawal of surplus liquid, and suction valve means operative to subject the interior of the container to a high degree of suction during the filling operation and to a low degree of suction during withdrawal of the surplus liquid at the end of the filling operation.

14. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, in combination, a filling nozzle adapted to be sealed by the container and comprising a liquid tube and a suction tube communicating with said liquid conduit and said suction conduit respectively to effect filling of the container by vacuum within the container, a suction valve and a liquid valve arranged to be opened by movement of the container into sealing position to permit a relatively high degree of suctionto be applied to the container during the filling operation, said liquid valve being closed upon movement of the container from filling position but prior to breaking of the seal, an atmospheric vent to the upper end of said liquid tube arranged to be opened immediately after the closing of liquid valve to effect rapid evacuation of the liquid tube into the'container While the interior of the container is still under a relatively high degree of suction, said partially opened suction valve permitting withdrawal of surplus liquid from the container at a relatively low degree of suction upon movement of the container to break the seal, whereby to reduce to a minimum turbulence and surface agitation of the liquid when the seal is broken and thus permit accurate filling levels to be attained.

15. In a rotary type container filling machine, in combination, a plurality of filling nozzles, a plurality of container supporting platforms adapted to be elevated to present successive containers into operative filling position with relation to their respective nozzles, and means for elevating said platforms including a stationary ring cam having a low surface and a high surface, and an adjustably mounted member forming an intermediate surface for positioning successive containers relative to the nozzles at a predetermined uniform level for withdrawal of surplus liquid.

16. In a vacuum operated filling machine having a liquid supply conduit and a suction conduit, a filling nozzle comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, said inner tube being flattened 'o'n-one side forming segmental passageways in the nozzle comprising a substantially central passageway defined by the inner tube and communicating with said liquid conduit, and a suction passage- 13 Way defined by one side of the outer tube and REFERENCES CITED the flattened portion of the inner tube and com- The following references are of record m the municating with said suction conduit, the end file of this patent:

of said nozzle being formed at an angle such as to cause any liquid remaining on the nozzle after 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS the filling operation to flow toward and be drawn Number Name Date into said suction passageway. 1,763,240 Kiefer June 10, 1930 WALTER BERTHELSEN. 2,146,072 Howard Feb. 7, 1939 10 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 341,149 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1931 

